Life After by Katie Ganshert

It could have been me.Snow whirls around an elevated train platform in Chicago. A distracted woman boards the train, takes her seat, and moments later a fiery explosion rips through the frigid air, tearing the car apart in a horrific attack on the city’s transit system. One life is spared. Twenty-two are lost.

A year later, Autumn Manning can’t remember the day of the bombing and she is tormented by grief—by guilt. Twelve months of the question constantly echoing. Why? Why? Why? Searching for answers, she haunts the lives of the victims, unable to rest.

Paul Elliott lost his wife in the train bombing and wants to let the dead rest in peace, undisturbed and unable to cause more pain for his loved ones. He wants normalcy for his twelve-year-old daughter and young son, to see them move beyond the heartbreak. But when the Elliotts and Autumn are unexpectedly forced together, he fears she’ll bring more wreckage in her wake. 

In Life After, Katie Ganshert’s most complex and unforgettable novel yet, the stirring prose and authentic characters pose questions of truth, goodness, and ultimate purpose in this emotionally resonant tale.

2 Year Blogging Anniversary MYSTERY GIVEAWAY!!!! CLOSED Winner is Cindy!

Hey Y'all

So I know its been a while since I had a post abut something other than a book review. We have had a ton of things going on these last few months. Y'all know we moved to Mississippi in June of last year, but we spent several months in a rental house while we remodeled a house we bought. Well that took WAY longer than we thought it would so the last few months of this past year were spent moving and  unpacking and trying to do Thanksgiving and Christmas while all this was going on.  We also were without Internet for 2 months. Now I know that doesn't sound like a big deal, and I really didn't think it would be, But y'all I didn't know what to do with myself. I was struggling to keep my reviews up and I could barely get those done in time. If not for a friend of mine I'd have been sunk. 

So long story short or maybe not so short, its been a crazy past few months.

I was watching the Super Bowl  this past Sunday while surfing Facebook (weren't we all) and I saw that my blog anniversary was the day before. I decided after seeing that that'd I'd do a little post about what I've learned these last two years and do a giveaway!

Amish Christmas At North Star by Cindy Woodsmall, Mindy Starns Clark with Emily Clark, Amanda Flower and Katie Ganshert

One night four lives entered the world by the hands of an Amish midwife, just outside North Star, Pennsylvania. Rebekah’s Babies, as they are called, are now grown adults and in four heartwarming novellas each young person experiences a journey of discovery, a possibility of love, and the wonder of Christmas.
Guiding Star by Katie Ganshert
Curiosity gets the best of Englischer Chase Wellington when he investigates the twenty-five-year-old disappearance of an Amish baby. When he finds adventurous Elle McAllister in Iowa will his discoveries upend her world?
Mourning Star by Amanda Flower
Eden Hochstetler slips from her parents’ fudge shop to investigate the death of her friend Isaac.  Who is guilty? Isaac’s handsome great nephew Jesse, an angry Englischer, or someone else?
In the Stars by Cindy Woodsmall
Heartbroken Kore Detweiler avoids North Star after Savilla Beiler rejects his love.  But when he is unexpectedly called to return home, he and Savilla must join forces to keep a family together.
Star of Grace by Mindy Starns Clark and Emily Clark
Andy Danner left North Star to join a new Amish settlement in Mississippi. His little brother devises a scheme to bring Andy home for Christmas and unwittingly unleashes the power of forgiveness in a reclusive widower’s life.

The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert--Review

                                         Just like in my dream, I was drowning and nobody even noticed.



Every morning, Carmen Hart pastes on her made-for-TV smile and broadcasts the weather. She’s the Florida panhandle’s favorite meteorologist, married to everyone’s favorite high school football coach. They’re the perfect-looking couple, live in a nice house, and attend church on Sundays. From the outside, she’s a woman who has it all together.  But on the inside, Carmen Hart struggles with doubt. She wonders if she made a mistake when she married her husband. She wonders if God is as powerful as she once believed. Sometimes she wonders if He exists at all. After years of secret losses and empty arms, she’s not so sure anymore.

Until Carmen’s sister—seventeen year old runaway, Gracie Fisher—steps in and changes everything. Gracie is caught squatting at a boarded-up motel that belongs to Carmen’s aunt, and their mother is off on another one of her benders, which means Carmen has no other option but to take Gracie in. Is it possible for God to use a broken teenager and an abandoned motel to bring a woman’s faith and marriage back to life? Can two half-sisters make each other whole? 

Katie’s Bio:

Award-winning author, Katie Ganshert, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in education, and worked as a fifth grade teacher for several years before staying home to write full-time. She was born and raised in the Midwest, where she lives with her family. When she’s not busy penning novels or spending time with her people, she enjoys drinking coffee with friends, reading great literature, and eating copious amounts of dark chocolate. You can learn more about Katie and her books by visiting her website or author Facebook page.

You can purchase the book at these and many other websites:

Amazon

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My Thoughts: Why can't Gracie be good enough? Why does Carmen have to be so perfect? How long can they both keep pretending they are okay? Will everything work out okay, or will it all come crashing down?

 Words can not describe how much I loved this book. From the very beginning I felt drawn to each character. I needed to know more about Gracie and Carmen. I had to know the ending to the story. I couldn't put this book down. The realness of each character made it hard to remember I was reading a book. This book touched my heart in so many ways I can't even describe. The raw and gritty test of faith was real and emotional. I really felt as if I was watching somebody's life behind the scenes. Katie is an excellent writer and I can't wait to read more from her. Read this book and share it with someone else. You won't regret it!

I received this book from the publisher through the blogging for books blogger program in exchange for my review. A positive review was not required.